FINAL SCORE: UMBC 85, Vermont 48
BALTIMORE – The Catamounts dropped their opening conference matchup against UMBC in Baltimore on Saturday afternoon by a score of 85-48. UVM falls to 5-9 (0-1) on the season, while UMBC improves to 10-4 (1-0).
 
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"For a second staight game, we didn't defend well enough to win," noted head coach Lori Gear McBride. "UMBC played with a lot of energy and we failed to match it."

Courtney Wright scored a team-high and career-best 14 points and matched her season-best with seven rebounds. Sydney Smith registered 10 points and Kylie Butler grabbed six boards.  
 
Taylor McCarley put up 19 points, dished eight assists and pulled down seven rebounds for the Retrievers. Laura Castaldo posted 19 points as well and Pandora Wilson collected 18 points and a game-high eight rebounds.
 
Wilson quickly racked up 12 first-quarter points as UMBC went on a 17-2 run over the Catamounts. Courtney Wright halted the Retrievers' run as she connected on a pair from the foul line and drove the middle of the lane for a layup. Another basket by Butler brought UVM within 11 of UMBC (21-10) after the first 10 minutes.
 
Vermont cut its deficit to single-digits as Hayley Robertson knocked down a triple from behind the left arc at the 6:49 mark in the second quarter, bringing the score to 23-17. The Retrievers picked up where they left off in the first quarter and created a 25-point cushion on a 22-2 run for the remainder of the half.
 
UMBC shot 16-for-32 (50-percent) from the field in the first half and caused 20 Vermont turnovers for 28 points.
 
Four Catamounts contributed in Vermont's third-quarter effort as Smith and Courtney Wright found themselves in double-figure scoring. After three quarters UMBC held a 67-33 advantage.
 
The Retrievers maintained their edge in the fourth quarter, taking their largest lead with 2:34 remaining. Courtney Wright closed the afternoon with back-to-back buckets to finish off her career performance.

UVM returns to Patrick Gym to host the Maine Black Bears on Wednesday (Jan. 6) at 7 p.m. Radio coverage in Burlington begins 20 minutes prior to tip-off at 6:40 p.m. on WVMT 620-AM and SportsJuice.com with Alastair Ingram calling the action. The game can also be viewed for free via AmericaEast.tv.
 
Tickets can be purchased online at UVMathletics.com, in person at the Athletic Ticket Office located on the balcony in Patrick Gymnasium (Mon - Fri; 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.), over the phone during office hours at 802-656-4410, or one hour before game time in the lobby of Patrick Gymnasium.